Can-heading machine.



PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903. J. BLACK i F. J. SMITH. CAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l"N0 MODEL.

N6. 746,662. PATHNTHD DB6. I6, 190,3.

' I. BLACK 66 P. J. SMITH.

GAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1902.

No MODEL. 4 SHBBTS-SHHHT 2.

1N: Nonms sans co. vnoamwo. wAsmNmoN, n.13..

PATENTED DEC. 15, 190s. J. BLAGK al P. J. SMITH.

CAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1902.

4 SHEETS-:SHEET 3.

H0 MODEL.

N0 MODEL- ma Nunms Finns uo. Pnoumn.. wAsHmnToN. n. c

PATEN'IED DEG. l5, 1903.. J. BLACK & F. J. SMITH.

CAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

cANLHi-:ADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming parser Lettere latentr no; 746,662, aerea December 15, 1906. Application filed September 4, 1902. Serial No. 122,111. (No model.)

To Z whom it may concern:

FRANK J. SM1TH,citizens of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful'Inprovements in Can-Heading Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to machinery for placing the ends or heads upon sheet-.metal cans. It belongs to the general class'of continuous can-headers, in which class mechanism continuously traveling receives the can `and open them when flexed or bent.

members, unites them to form headed cans, and discharges such cans while traveling. Insome machines of this class opening and closing jaws are arranged on a rotarydisk to receive cans and heads, external means are provided for opening and closing them, and additional means are furnished for forcing opposite pairs of closed jaws toward each other in order to place the heads upon the bodies. In another type two oppositely-trav eling structures are provided with' pairs of half-clamps, which come together and regis-A ter to inclose the cans and heads and while so closed are entered by plungers which perform the heading operation. In a variation from this type the plungers are dispensed with and the pairs offhalfclamps while registered are forced toward each other to apply the heads. d

The principle governing the present invention is materially different from either type referred to. There is a single traveling structure composed of parallel chains connected by transverse rods and running over sup-` porting-sprockets, so as to have rectilinear and curvilinear lines of travel. On each chain is arranged the two members of a complete clamp for inclosing one end of'a canbody and the head for that end. There is, of course, a'series of such complete clamps along each chain. mounted on the chain as to be opened and closed not by'external mechanism, butby the natural action of the hinged chain-links traveling alternately on straight and curvilinear lines, which close the clamps when straight With these clamping devices are combined means for forcing the complete clamps toward each These clamp members are so` other for the heading operation and also means for supplying can members and for discharging headed cans. `This new type of construction produces a continuous high- 'speed header of much greater simplicity than its predecessors, having fewer parts, being less liable to get out of order, of reduced cost in manufacture, and of great accuracy and eifectiveness.

A practical embodiment of our invention is herein described and is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with can-body and can-head chutes removed. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 should be read together, as if Fig. 4 were joined to the top of Fig. 3, and form together a horizontal projection of the chain of clamps and related mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of two adjacent chain-links and two members of a clamp closed. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View, partlybroken away, to show the heading operation. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation looking with the arrow in Fig.V 6. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but

with clamp open.

The basel has standards 2, to which are bolted the frames 3, set preferably in an inclined position. These frames are shown as of Achanneled cross-section, Fig. 7, and have straightsides and curved ends, Fig. l. They` arefmade with cross-pieces 5 and 6 and. webs 7, the latterforming guides for admitting the shaft-boxes of shaft 9, such boxes being adjustable by screws 11 in cross-pieces 6. A shaft l2 is journaled in cross-pieces 5,. On each of these shafts is mounted a pair of sprocketwheels 13, which carry parallel chains composed of links 15. 'A short shaft 10, Fig. 2, is the driving-shaft, and the sprockets are geared down from it to the desired speed by pinion 8 and gear 14. The chains derive a continuous motion whichis rectilinearV along the sides of the framesand curvilinear around their ends'.v The two chains are connected transversely by rods 16, upon which the links are jointly hinged, and by intermediate-rods 17, which pass from link Vto link between the joints.

The moving structure composed of the parallel chains and their cross-rodscarries open- ICO ' ing one end of a can-bodyand the head for that end. Toward the other end of the same rods 16 and 17 the construction is repeated by two similar half-clamps, which inclose the other end of the can-body and the other head. Thus there are four clamp members hinged on each rod 17 and also upon each rod 16, two being members 18 projecting in one direction and two being members 19 projecting in the other direction. This is very clearly illustrated in Fig. 6.

When the clamps are closed, a complete circular inclosure is formed having two diameters for bodies and heads, the members abuttingagainsteachother. The half-clamp 18 we term the blind-clamp, its chambers being closed by the end plates 21, which overlap clamps 19 (compare Figs. 5 and 8) and which are the backings for the can-heads. Recesses 2O are formed in the approaching free ends of the clamp members, so as to admit the can-head without opening the clamps as widely as the full diameter of such head. This is indicated in Fig. 1, where the canhead is entering, and also in Fig. 7. In the hinging of the clamps the outer or blind clamp 18 is formed with a side bracket 22 and with a lug 18a, through which rod 16 passes, Fig. 7 An arm 23 extends from the bracket and is hinged upon rod 17. Clamp 19 has a projecting lug 24 hinged upon the next rod 17 and is also directly mounted upon the same pin 16 by a lug 19a between bracket 22 and lug 18, Fig. 7. Hence any two adjacent chain-links on both sides with their jointing-rod 16 and their respective rods 17 act like a toggle which when bent, Fig. 8,r

causes the clamps to open and when straight, Fig. 5, forces them to close. If this be understood, it will be evident that no exterior mechanism of any kind is required to accomplish these movements of the clamps; but, on the contrary, such movements result naturally and in a single mechanism (forthe two chains and sprockets traveling in the same direction and at the same speed must be considered as one mechanism for this purpose) from the direction of motion of the chains around and between the sprockets. Hence in carrying the two jaws of a clamp upon one chain the device is sharply distinguished from those in which one member of a clamp is carried by a disk or a chain and the other membercarried by another disk or chain traveling in the opposite direction and which are caused to register and form the clamp when the two disks or chains approach each other. When the chains are traveling on their rectilinear lines between the sprockets, the toggles are straightened-and the jaws closed, but when they are traveling in curvilinear lines around the sprockets the links are iexed and the jaws are opened.

Now, referring to Fig. l, at a point in the lines of travel where the clamps are open but are ascending is set the can-body feed-chute 25, from which the bodies c roll successively into successive blind-clamps and are carried up with them as the latter pass the said chute.

At a point above, but before the turn around the lower sprocket has been completed, are set the can-head feed-chutes 26 26. The slotting of the free ends of the clamps enables the heads to enter even though such free ends may have nearly closed. As the chain straightens out the clamps close completely, with the body and two heads b inclosed and in line ready for union. The clamps are provided with projecting wings 30, projecting backwardly and meeting, which interpose toV prevent the first can-body or head in a chute from entering between the separate clamps. Until such cut-offs act any can member can rest against the one which has entered the clamp. This is illustrated in Fig. l. Upon the bracket 22 of each blindclamp is journaled a roller 27, and upon the arm 23 is'another roller 28, one above and the other below the hinge-joint. Rollers 27 come into inside contact with inclines or cams 29, adjustable at 31 on the machine-frame and set so as to give the proper degree of inward movement to the opposite complete clamps on rods 17 16 17. This is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 6. The cam-track continues as a straight guide to about the point Where the curvilinear movement commences and the clamps begin to open. Here the lower rollers 28 take an outside bearing on oppositely-inclined cam-tracks 32, Fig. 7 and dotted lines in Fig. 3, and are restored to normal position while going around the upper curve. As the opened and retracted clamps commence to descend on said upper curve the headed cans are successively intercepted by the discharge-chute 33, whose bottom rails 34 project into the path of the cans. The half-clamps which have been supporting the can fall away, Fig. 1, and the released can rolls down chute 33. The clamps close again on the straight movement of the chain, but are idle until they commence to travel around the lower curve, when they open to receive the bodies and heads.

We do not limit ourselves to the exact constructions and arrangements herein described and shown in the drawings, as we desire to avail ourselves of such modiiications and equivalents as fall properly within the limits of our invention.

Having thus fully described our invention,

IOC

IIC

`the heading operation is performed.

2. In acan-heading machine, asingle chain structure running in straight and curvilinear lines and carrying clamps for receiving can members, such clamps being opened by the change in motion from straight to curvilinear,

and closed by the change in motion from curvilinear to straight, and means for moving the clamps transversely, substantially as described and shown whereby the heads and bodies -are united or assembled.

3. In a can-heading machine, means for supplying bodies and heads separately, a chain of links continuously movable on alternatelystraight and curvilinear lines, in cornbination with clamp members hinged to the chain-links and opened by the flexing and closed by the straightening of said links, substantially as described and shown and means for moving said clamp members transversely.

4. In a can-heading machine, an endless chain carrying clamps hinged together and to adjacent links of the chain, whereby such clamps are opened by the exing of said adjacent links and closed by their straightening,

substantially as described and shown, and means for moving said clamps transversely.

5. In a can-heading machine, means for su pplyin'g bodies and heads, an endless chain carrying clamps hinged together and to adjacent links of the chain,whereby such clamps are opened by the flexing of said adjacent links and closed by their straightening, substantially as described and shown, and means for moving said clamps transversely.

6. In a can-heading machine, means for supplying bodies and heads, parallel endless chains composed of links hinged to one another upon transverse hinge-rods, auxiliary transverse rods connecting opposite links of the two chains and clamps on bothchains composed of two members, hinged jointly to the hinge-rods and separately to the auxiliary rods, whereby said clamps are opened by the flexing of thechain-links and closed by their straightening, substantially as described and shown.

7. In a can-heading machine, means for supplying bodies and heads, a chain of links continuously movable on alternately straight and curvilinear lines, in combination with clamp members hinged to the chain-links and opened by the flexing, and closed by the straightening of said links, and with means for moving said clamps bodily and transversely, substantially as described and shown.

8. In a cani-heading machine, means for supplying bodies and heads, an endless chain carrying clamps, hinged togetherand to adjacent links of the chain, whereby such clamps are opened by the exing of said adjacent links and closed by their straightening, and

with means for moving said clamps bodily and transversely, substantially as described and shown.

9. In a can-heading machine, means for supplying bodies and heads, parallel endless chains composed of links hinged to one another upon transverse hinge-rods, auxiliary transverse rods connecting opposite links of the two chains, clamps on both chains composed of two members, hinged jointly to the hinge-rods and separatelytothe auxilaryrods, whereby said clamps are opened by the flexing of the chain-links and closed by their straightening, and means for moving the4 closed clamps transversely, substantially as described and shown.

I0. In a can-heading machine, the combinationwith two adjacent links of an endless chain, hinged together, ot' an outer blindclamp hinged to one link between its'einds and also to the hinge-rod of the two links, and

an inner open clamp hinged to the other link between its ends and also to said hinge-rod, the free ends of said clamps being adapted to abut and close when the links are in line and to separate when they are flexed, substantially as described and shown, a second and parallel chain of links connected to the first and constituting with it a single traveling structure, provided with similarly-operating clamps, and means for causing the oppositelyarranged clamps to approach each other.

ll. In a can-heading machine, parallel endless chains, clamp members hinged to their links and to each other so as to be opened and closed by their curvilinear and rectilinear travel, and inclines adjacent to the clamps for forcing them toward each other, and from each other, substantially as described and shown.

12. In a can-heading machine an inclined frame or structure, parallelchains supported so as to travel thereupon in straight and curvilinear lines, clamps hinged in pairs upon the links of the respective chains so as to close when said links are straight and to open when they are flexed, body and head feed-chutes located near the bottom of the ascending incline so as to deliver bodies and heads into said clamps before they close, and means Ifor forcing opposite pairs of closed clam ps toward each other, substantially as described and shown.

13. Ina can heading machine, a single traveling structure composed of two parallel chains in the same rtransverse plane, clamps carried by both' chains, adapted to be opened and closed by the movement of said chain, and to be moved transversely toward each other so as to unite can members and to re- IOO IIO

lease the cans, in combination with a dismeans for foreingthe combined clamps transeharge-ehute projecting into the path of said verselyin both directions, substantially as deeans as they are carried. scribed and shown. I5 14. In aean-headingmaehine, two adjacent In testimony whereof we have affixed our 5 links of an endless chain, a rod 16 upon which signatures, in presence of two witnesses, this they are pivoted, an intermediate rod 17 se- 26th day of August, 1902.

cured to each link, a blind-elamp having an arm 23 pivoted to one rod 17, and a bracket I JB 22 and lug 18a pivoted upon rod 16, an open Io clamp 19 having a lug 24 pivoted upon the Witnesses:

other rod 17, and a lug 19 pivoted upon rod v HARRY L. HORN, 16 -between said bracket and lug 182, and E. J. MUSSBAUM. 

